Systems and methods for providing an express mail label

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for generating a mailing label. In one embodiment, a method includes requesting, through a communication channel, a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label is printable by a user on a single-sheet medium; receiving, through the communication channel, a response to said request, such that the response includes the tracking number provided by a source of one or more tracking numbers; and enabling the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/390,991, entitled “EXPRESS MAIL LABEL DESIGN,” filedon Jun. 24, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

I. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to mailing labels. Moreparticularly, systems and methods are provided for enabling a user toproduce an Express Mail label, such that the Express Mail label isprintable by the user on a single-sheet label.

II. Background Information

Express Mail is the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) premier service andoffers guaranteed next-day and second-day delivery service 365 days ayear, including weekends and holidays. Letters, documents, merchandise,and packages may be sent using Express Mail, with a refund provided tothe sender if the shipment is delivered later than the guaranteeddelivery date.

Currently, a user mailing a letter or package is required to use a USPSmultiple sheet Express Mail label, such as USPS Label 11-B. These labelsinclude four sheets and are thus difficult to automate, since they mustbe hand-printed or generated on a dot-matrix printer. Because most usersprefer laser or thermal printers, these multiple sheet labels cannot beused.

Accordingly, there is a need to allow users to print black and white,single-sheet labels online for all USPS product lines (i.e., overnight,second-day, and ground service). Moreover, there is also a need to allowusers to automate their mailing operations and print shipping labelsdirectly from local or network printers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to systems and methodsfor enabling a user to produce an Express Mail label which is printableby a user on a single-sheet medium.

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention may generate amailing label, such that the mailing label may be used with a letter orpackage sent in an express manner. In an embodiment, systems and methodsconsistent with the present invention may request, through acommunication channel, a tracking number for the letter or package,wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label isprintable by a user on a single-sheet medium, such as a label.Furthermore, systems and methods consistent with the present inventionmay receive, through the communication channel, a response to therequest, such that the response includes the tracking number provided bya source of one or more tracking numbers. In addition, systems andmethods consistent with the present invention may enable the user toprint, on a single-sheet medium, the mailing label with the receivedtracking number.

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention may alsoenable a user to print a computer generated mailing label. in oneembodiment, the method may include receiving, through a communicationchannel, a request for a tracking number; and determining whether therequest is for a mailing label that is printable by a user on asingle-sheet medium. When the request is for a mailing label that isprintable by the user on the single-sheet medium, the method may includedetermining the tracking number, such that the tracking number includesa unique prefix; storing the determined tracking number; and providing,through the communication channel, the determined tracking number.

Moreover, systems and methods consistent with the present invention maydistribute one or more letters or packages. In one embodiment, themethod may include delivering a letter with a mailing label; determiningthat the mailing label includes a tracking number with a two-characterprefix, such that the two-character prefix identifies the mailing labelas being printed by a user; and sending a delivery indication includingthe determined tracking number.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as described. Further featuresand/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein.For example, the present invention may be directed to variouscombinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/orcombinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosedbelow in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate various embodiments and aspectsconsistent with the present invention and, together with thedescription, explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system environment consistent with thesystems and methods of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary processor capable of printing a labelfor a user of the exemplary system of FIG. 1 consistent with the systemsand methods of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart for requesting a tracking numberconsistent with the systems and methods of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary customer receipt consistent with the systemsand methods of the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary single-sheet mailing label printed by a userconsistent with the systems and methods of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart for receiving a request for a trackingnumber and providing a tracking number that enables a user to print amailing label consistent with the systems and methods of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the invention, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, thesame reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer tothe same or like parts.

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention enable a userto print Express Mail labels online using a single-sheet medium, such asa pressure-sensitive adhesive form removably affixed to a carriersubstrate (e.g., a label). The mailing label includes, inter alia, atracking number with a unique prefix. The prefix identifies that thelabel was printed by an online user rather than printed by some othermeans, such as manually or by a postal facility using multiple sheetlabels.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system 1000 that enables a user to print anExpress Mail label online (e.g., through a communication channel) usinga single-sheet label. Referring to FIG. 1, system 1000 includes a user1100, one or more communication channels 1400-1404, and an issuer 1500.Issuer 1500 includes a financial database 1570. a computing platform1300, and an Express Mail database 1560.

User 1100 includes any entity seeking to print an Express Mail labelonline using a single-sheet medium (or label). User 1100 may include,for example, a consumer home computer, a retail mail kiosk, a retailmail outlet, a mail facility, such as a post office or distributioncenter, and/or a corporate mail center. Moreover, user 1100 may includeone or more processors, as described in detail below. Although only asingle user 1100 is depicted in FIG. 1, a plurality users may seek toprint mailing labels.

Communication channels 1400-1404 (also referred to herein as“communication channel”) may include, alone or in any suitablecombination a telephony-based network, a local area network (LAN), awide area network (WAN), a dedicated intranet, the Internet, a wirelessnetwork, a bus, or a backplane. Further, any suitable combination ofwired and/or wireless components and systems may be incorporated intothe communication channels. Although the communication channels aredepicted in FIG. 1 as bi-directional, a skilled artisan would recognizethat unidirectional communication links may be used instead.

Issuer 1500 includes any entity that enables a user to generate (orprint) single-sheet labels by issuing tracking numbers with a uniqueprefix to distinguish the user-printed Express Mail labels from anyother mailing labels, such as Express Mail labels printed on multiplesheet labels. Issuer 1500 may also include financial database 1570 torecord financial transactions. For example, when user 1100 requests atracking number so that a single-sheet Express Mail label may beprinted, user 1100 may provide payment information, such as credit cardinformation, to Issuer 1500. Issuer 1500 may then record a credit infinancial database 1570 and later record against that credit anypayments received from a bank or credit card.

Furthermore, issuer 1500 may include computing platform 1300. FIG. 2depicts a block diagram of an exemplary computer 2000 that may be usedas the computing platform 1300. As noted above, exemplary computer 2000may also be used by (or included in) user 1100. Computer 2000 includesan input module 2050, a processor 2200, a storage module 2500, and anoutput module 2300.

Output module 2300 further includes a display 2350, a printer 2360, anda network interface 2380. Network interface 2380 enables computer 2000to communicate through communication channels 1400-1404.

Input module 2050 of FIG. 2 may be implemented with a variety of devicesto receive user input and/or provide input to processor 2200. Some ofthese devices (not shown) may include, for example, a network interfacecard, a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a bar code reader, and an inputstorage device.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates only a single processor 2200, computer 2000may alternatively include a plurality of processors. Processor 2200 mayalso include, for example, one or more of the following: centralprocessing unit, co-processor, memory, registers, and other dataprocessing devices and systems as appropriate. Moreover, computer 2000(or processor 2200 therein) may be embodied as a wireless or portabledevice, such as a mobile phone, text messaging device, or personaldigital assistant (PDA).

Storage module 2500 may be embodied with a variety of components orsubsystems capable of providing storage including, for example, a harddrive, an optical drive, a general-purpose storage device, a removablestorage device, and/or memory. Moreover, storage module 2500 may becapable of including databases, such as financial database 1570 orExpress Mail database 1560. Further, although storage module 2500 isillustrated in FIG. 2 as being separate or independent from processor2200, storage module 2500 and processor 2200 may be implemented as partof a single platform or system.

Referring back to FIG. 1, issuer 1500 may include Express Mail database1560, such that it is available to user 1100 while connected onlinethrough the communication channel (or network). Express Mail database1560 may include tracking numbers for letters and packages, withcorresponding additional information. This additional information mayinclude one or more of the following: payment or fee information, adestination address, a user for sender) address, delivery information(e.g., whether the package has been delivered), originating post officeZIP code, day of delivery (e.g., next day or second day), time ofdelivery (e.g., by 12 noon or by 3 PM), date and time package or letterprovided to post office for mailing, return receipt request, weight ofletter or package, weekend or holiday delivery requests, amount ofpostage, insurance information, and cash on delivery (COD) requests.Moreover, Express Mail database 1560 may provide user 1100 with atracking number. The tracking number may include a unique prefix,identifying the tracking number as issued to user 1100. In one aspectconsistent with the invention, the unique prefix identifies that thetracking number is associated with a mailing label that is printable bya user on a single-sheet mailing label rather than a multiple sheetlabel. In one embodiment, Express Mail database 1560 is stored onstorage module 2500 and is accessible online through communicationchannels 1400-1403.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary method where user 1100 makes a request for atracking number and then prints a single-sheet mailing label for ExpressMail delivery. Referring to FIG. 3, user 1100 may request a trackingnumber for an Express Mail label that is printable by the user (step3100). User 1100 may then receive a tracking number with a uniquetwo-character prefix, identifying the tracking number as a usergenerated Express Mail label (step 3200). With the tracking number, user1100 may be enabled to print on printer 2360 a mailing label using asingle-sheet medium, such as an adhesive or self-stick label (step3300). After printing, the single-sheet mailing label may then beaffixed to a letter or package and then mailed, such as via the USPSExpress Mail service (steps 3350-3400). If postage is sufficient to mailthe letter or package to its destination, the letter or package will bedelivered to the address indicated on the mailing label (step 3500).Otherwise, user 1100 may be required to pay additional fees (or postage)(steps 3600). When the package is delivered, user 1100 may receive anindication that the package has been delivered (step 3700). Thefollowing provides ore detailed description of steps 3100-3700.

To request a tracking number (step 3100) user 1100 may use an interface,such as an application programming interface, on computer 2000 torequest (or solicit) a tracking number from issuer 1500 viacommunication channels 1400-1403. In one embodiment, the interface isembedded in an Internet browser, permitting the user to make the requestusing the browser. The request may include an indication that thetracking number is for a user which seeks to print an Express Mail labelwhile connected online through communication channels 1400-1404. Theindication may be in any form including, for example, a flag, a bit, abyte, a message, or a signal. The request may also include additionalinformation, such as payment or fee information, a destination address,a user (or sender) address, delivery information (e.g., whether thepackage has been delivered), originating post office ZIP code, day ofdelivery (e.g., next day or second day), time of delivery (e.g., by 12noon or by 3 PM), date and time package or letter was provided to a postoffice for mailing, return receipt request, weight of letter or package,weekend or holiday delivery requests, amount of postage, insuranceinformation, and COD requests. Issuer 1500 may process the request,which is described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 6, andprovide a tracking number to user 1100.

User 1100 (or computer 2000 therein) may receive the tracking numberfrom issuer 1500 via communications channels 1400-1403 (step 3200). Inone aspect consistent with the invention, the tracking number mayinclude a two-character prefix. The two-character prefix may identifythat the tracking number corresponds to a user-generated mailing labelrequested online and/or printable by the user on a single-sheet label.The received tracking number may be received with additionalinformation, such as information that enables user 1100 to print theExpress Mail label. For example, the tracking number may be receivedwith an Indication that postage was paid. When that is the case, theexpress mailing label may be printed with such postage information.Otherwise, the postage information on the mailing label may be leftblank when printed by printer 2350. In addition to the tracking number,user 1100 may receive a receipt from issuer 1500 through communicationchannels 1400-1404. FIG. 4 depicts an example of the receipt receivedfrom issuer 1500. Moreover, user 1100 may receive an image file, such asa “.pdf” file, with the tracking number and any additional informationformatted for printing on printer 2360. in one aspect of the invention,the image file and/or the tracking number are not sent to user 1100until user 1100 pays any fees associated with mailing the letter orpackage.

In one embodiment, the received tracking number may be received using aninterface on computer 2000, such as an application programming interfaceor an interface (or plug-in) embedded in an Internet browser. Forexample, the plug-in may be software (or code) for viewing text or imagefiles.

Referring again to FIG. 3, with the received tracking number, issuer1500 may enable user 1100 to print the Express Mail label using asingle-sheet label (step 3300). In one embodiment, user 1100 may beenabled to print the express mailing label when user 1100 receives animage file from issuer 1500. The image file may contain the trackingnumber that uniquely identifies the mailing label as printable by user1100. With the image file, user 1100 may print the Express Mail label(step 3350).

An exemplary Express Mail label 5000 is depicted in FIG. 5. Referring toFIG. 5, the mailing label is printed on a single-sheet label, not amulti-sheet label. Express Mail label 5000 may include a return address5200, a destination address 5300, and a tracking number 5400 with acorresponding bar code 5410. Tracking number 5400 includes a uniqueprefix “EO” to identify label 5000 as an Express Mail label printable byuser 1100 on a single-sheet label. The unique prefix may furtherindicate that the tracking number is received while connected online toissuer 1500. Express Mail label 5000 further includes an indication ofwhether postage has been “PAID” or is “REQUIRED” 5100. In the case ofFIG. 5, postage must be paid in a separate transaction, since postage isstill “REQUIRED” 5100. Lastly, label 5000 includes information 5500 foruse by issuer 1500 (in this case, the USPS).

In one aspect consistent with the invention, the Express Mail label maybe printed using an interface on computer 2000, such as an applicationprogramming interface or a plug-in embedded in an Internet browser.

When the Express Mail label is printed, it may then be affixed to aletter or package and mailed, such as via the USPS Express Mail service(step 3400, FIG. 3). In one embodiment, user 1100 may receive a customerreceipt 4000, depicted in FIG. 4, from issuer 1500 and provide thatreceipt 4000 to the USPS (or carrier) for a postmark. The postmarkedcustomer receipt may serve as proof of mailing the letter or package.

If postage is sufficient to mail the letter or package to itsdestination, the letter or package will be delivered to the addressindicated on the Express Mail label (step 3500). In one embodiment, theUSPS verifies the weight of the package or letter, and then determineswhether sufficient postage has been paid against the tracking number forthat package or letter. If postage is insufficient, user 1100 may berequired to pay additional fees (step 3600) or, alternatively, theaddressee may be required to pay any additional fees on delivery of thepackage or letter. The user may pay postage online to issuer 1500 ordirectly to a USPS postal facility.

When the package is delivered, user 1100 may receive an indication thatthe package or letter has been delivered (step 3700). In one embodiment,the indication is in the form of a message that includes at least one ofthe following: the tracking number, delivery address, date and time ofdelivery, and name (or signature) of the person accepting delivery ofthe package or letter. For example, user 1100 may receive a message orelectronic mail (email) from issuer 1500. Alternatively, user 1100 maycall (or request) with delivery information from issuer 1500.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart depicting the steps associated withissuer 1500 receiving a request (e.g. from user 1100) for a trackingnumber. Referring to FIG. 6, issuer 1500 may receive a request for atracking number for an Express Mail label (step 6100). Issuer 1500 maythen determine whether the request is for a single-sheet mailing labelthat is printable by user 1100 while connected online to issuer 1500(step 6200). If so, issuer 1500 may determine a two-character prefixthat identifies the tracking number as being associated with an ExpressMail letter (or package) that is printable by user 1100 on asingle-sheet label (step 6300). Issuer 1500 may also store the trackingnumber and any corresponding additional information, such as useridentity (step 6400). Issuer 1500 may then provide to user 1100, thetracking number with the two-character prefix (step 6500). The trackingnumber and corresponding additional information may also be provided toa financial entity, such as a corporate accounting department ordatabase therein, to record a financial transaction associated with thetracking number (step 6600). Steps 6100-6600 are described in additionaldetail below.

Issuer 1500 (or computing platform 1300 therein) may receive a requestfor a tracking number from user 1100 through communication channels1400-1402 (step 6100). For example, computing platform 1300 may includean interface, such as an application programming interface or a plug-inembedded in an Internet browser, that receives the request from user1100.

Computing platform 1300 may then determine whether the tracking numberrequest is for a single-sheet mailing label that is printable by user1100 (step 6200). In one embodiment, the request for the tracking numberis received from user 1100 and includes, as part of the request, anindication that the request is for a single-sheet mailing label which isprintable by user 1100. For example, the request may be made by aninterface adapted to make such requests using a Hyper Text TransferProtocol (http) connection to a website that receives tracking numbers.Alternatively, the request may include information, such as a flag,signal, or text field, indicating that the request is for a single-sheetmailing label which is printable by user 1100. In one embodiment, thetracking number request may be in the form of a TCP/IP (TransportControl Protocol/Internet Protocol) exchange, such as a Simple ObjectOriented Protocol (SOAP) or HTTP.

Issuer 1500 (or computer platform 1300 therein) may also determine atwo-character prefix that identifies the tracking number as beingassociated with an Express Mail letter (or package) that is printable byuser 1100 on a single-sheet label (step 6300). In one embodiment,computing platform 1300 may request a tracking number with a uniquetwo-character prefix from Express Mail database 1560. Express Maildatabase 1560 then provides to computing platform 1300, the trackingnumber with the two-character prefix. Express Mail database 1560 maystore additional information associated with the tracking numberincluding at least one of the following: payment or fee information, adestination address, a user (or sender) address, delivery information,originating post office ZIP Code, day of delivery, time of delivery,date and time package or letter was provided to a post office formailing, return receipt request, weight of letter or package, weekend orholiday delivery requests, amount of postage, insurance information, andCOD requests (step 6400).

Computing platform 1500 may then provide to user 1100 the trackingnumber with the two-character prefix (step 6500). In one embodiment, therequest for the tracking number may be provided to user 1100 through aninterface adapted to provide (or solicit) tracking numbers. Theinterface may be in the form of an application programming interface oran interface (or plug-in) embedded in an Internet browser. Moreover,computing platform 1500 may provide the tracking number as part of aTCP/IP-based message exchange. Computing platform 1500 may also providea printable image file with the tracking number. The image file may beprinted by user 1100 on printer 2360, outputting a mailing label, suchas depicted in FIG. 5.

Computing platform 1300 may also provide to a financial entity, such asa corporate accounting department or database therein, a record of thefinancial transaction associated with the tracking number (step 6600).For example, computing platform 1300 may provide a user's paymentinformation, such as credit card information, to financial database1570. Financial database 1570 may also credit any amounts received froma bank or credit card to the tracking number. Furthermore, computingplatform 1300 may provide a copy of customer on-line receipt 4000depicted in FIG. 4 to financial database 1570, where receipt 4000 may bestored.

In one embodiment, issuer 1500 is also a distributor of letters andpackages. In that embodiment, when issuer 1500 delivers the letter orpackage with a tracking number that includes a unique two-characterprefix, as described above, issuer 1500 may send an acknowledgment (orindication) to user 1100 through communication channel 1400. Forexample, the indication may be in the form of an electronic mail messagewith at least one of the following: the tracking number, date and timeof delivery, person accepting the letter (or package), and destinationaddress.

Although the description above refers to a single-sheet label forExpress Mail, a skilled artisan would recognize upon reading thedisclosure herein that delivery mechanisms other than Express Mail maybe implemented instead.

The systems and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in variousforms including, for example, a processor, such as computer 2000.Moreover, the above-noted features and other aspects and principles ofthe present invention may be implemented in various environments. Suchenvironments and related applications may be specially constructed forperforming the various processes and operations of the invention or theymay include a general-purpose computer or computing platform selectivelyactivated or reconfigured to provide the necessary functionality. Theprocesses disclosed herein are not inherently related to any particularcomputer or other apparatus, and may be implemented by a suitablecombination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, variousgeneral-purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordancewith teachings of the invention, or it may be more convenient toconstruct a specialized apparatus or system to perform the requiredmethods and techniques.

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention also includecomputer readable media that include program instruction or code forperforming various computer-implemented operations based on the methodsand processes of the invention. The media and program instructions maybe those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of theinvention, or they may be well known and available to those of ordinaryskill in the computer software arts. Examples of program instructionsinclude machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and filescontaining a high level code that can be executed by the computer usingan interpreter.

For purposes of the above discussion, a process is generally conceivedto be a sequence of computer-executed steps leading to a desired result.These steps generally require physical manipulations of physicalquantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take theform of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of beingstored, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. It isconventional for those skilled in the art to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, objects, numbers,records, files, etc. However, these and similar terms should beassociated with appropriate physical quantities for computer operations.These terms are merely conventional labels applied to physicalquantities that exist within and during computer operation.

1.-90. (canceled)
 91. A computer-implemented method for providing amailing label to be affixed to a mail item, the method comprising:receiving, by a computer, a request for a tracking number from a user;transmitting, by the computer, a response to the request to the user,the response including the tracking number and a representation of amailing label printable by the user for mailing a mail item; providing,by the computer, a receipt to the user, wherein the receipt serves as aproof of the mailing of the mail item; and providing, by the computer,the receipt and the tracking number to a financial database, the receiptbeing associated with the tracking number in the financial database. 92.The method of claim 91, further comprising determining, by the computer,whether the request is for the mailing label and whether the mailinglabel is printable on a single-sheet medium.
 93. The method of claim 91,further comprising storing in a storage device the tracking number. 94.The method of claim 91, wherein the receiving of the request furthercomprises receiving payment information corresponding to the user. 95.The method of 94, wherein the receiving of the payment informationfurther comprises receiving a credit card number corresponding to theuser.
 96. The method of claim 94, further comprising: recording a creditin the financial database; and recording against the credit a paymentreceived from a bank.
 97. The method of 91, wherein the receiving of therequest for comprises receiving a ZIP code for a destination of the mailitem.
 98. The method of claim 91, further comprising determining thetracking number in response to the request.
 99. The method of claim 98,further comprising: transmitting information identifying the user to asource database; and determining the tracking number according to thesource database.
 100. The method of claim 99, further comprisingreceiving a response from the source database, wherein the responseincludes the tracking number corresponding to the user.
 101. The methodof claim 91, wherein the tracking number includes a unique prefix. 102.The method of claim 101, wherein the unique prefix is a two-characterprefix.
 103. The method of claim 101, wherein the unique prefixdistinguishes the mailing label printable on a single-sheet medium fromother mailing labels printable on multi-sheet media.
 104. The method ofclaim 101, wherein the unique prefix distinguishes the mailing labelprintable by the user from other mailing labels printable by personsother than the user.
 105. The method of claim 91, wherein the mailinglabel is an Express Mail label.
 106. The method of claim 91, wherein thetransmitting of the response further comprises transmitting the responseto the user through a network.
 107. A computer-readable mediumcomprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to perform a method for providing a mailing label to beaffixed to a mail item, the method comprising: receiving a request for atracking number from a user; transmitting a response to the request tothe user, the response including the tracking number and arepresentation of a mailing label printable by the user for mailing mailitem; providing a receipt to the user, wherein the receipt serves s aproof of the mailing of the mail item; and providing the receipt and thetracking number to a financial database, the receipt being associatedwith the tracking number in the financial database.
 108. A computersystem for providing a mailing label to be affixed to a mail item, thesystem comprising: a memory for storing instructions; a processor forexecuting the instructions, which cause the processor to: receive arequest for a tracking number from a user; transmit a response to therequest to the user, the response including the tracking number and arepresentation of a mailing label printable by the user for mailing amail item; provide a receipt to the user, wherein the receipt serves asa proof of the mailing of the mail item; and provide the receipt and thetracking number to a financial database, the receipt being associatedwith the tracking number in the financial database.
 109. The computersystem of claim 108, further comprising a source database for storing aplurality of tracking numbers.
 110. The computer system of claim 108,wherein the instructions further cause the processor to retrieve thetracking number from the source database in response to the request bythe user.